OC Art League funding cut hits after school programs, youth classes

Last week at a budget hearing, the Worcester County Commissioners voted to discontinue funding to the Art League of Ocean City, thereby ending the public private partnership that was established between the state of Maryland, Worcester County, the Town of Ocean City, and individual donors. This type of cooperation is rare, and it has taken decades to bring it to fruition. Since opening the new Ocean City Center for the Arts in 2013, the Art League has filled a cultural void in the area, and has become a place where people of all ages come for personal growth, creative expression, and community involvement. (Daily Times)

Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa resigned Tuesday amid a growing federal investigation into his personal finances and other private and professional affairs, prompting Mayor Catherine E. Pugh to announce a national search for his replacement just days after she expressed continued confidence in him. De Sousa’s departure — after 30 years in the department and less than four months at its helm — comes amid revelations that the federal prosecutors who charged him last week with failing to file federal tax returns are probing deeper into his past. (Balt. Sun)

Baltimore County Council chair says there will be no public hearings on replacing Kamenetz as executive

The chairman of the Baltimore County Council said Tuesday he does not plan to seek candidates publicly or hold open hearings on who should replace County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, who died suddenly last week. Julian Jones said council members were elected to make these type of decisions — and did not require public input. “I do not anticipate any public input, only because of the timeline,” said Jones, although he did not set a date for a decision to be made. “This is the job of the County Council. This is part of the charter. Everyone up here has been elected to do a job and I think it’s important that we do the job.” (Balt. Sun)

An independent panel continues to review the investigation of Baltimore Police Det. Sean Suiter’s death, despite a change in leadership at the police department, officials said Tuesday. A spokesman for the police department and members of the Independent Review Board said at its second meeting Tuesday that the suspension, and later resignation, of Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa, hadn’t halted the panel’s progress. (Balt. Sun)

Anne Arundel County to begin uniformed patrols on light rail trains

Riders of the light rail may notice a different uniformed officer patrolling the train at stops around Linthicum and Ferndale. The Anne Arundel County Police Department and the Maryland Department of Transportation are entering into an agreement allowing uniformed county police to enforce laws inside light rail cars as well as increase enforcement in and around the stations. The train cars are run by the Maryland Transit Administration, which has its own police agency, and typically law enforcement agencies work together while maintaining jurisdictional boundaries. (Capital)

This Howard County city saw the largest population increase in Greater Baltimore

Between 2015 and 2016, the Howard County ZIP code for Ellicott City saw an increase of 2,040 people to its population — the largest in Greater Baltimore during the same timeframe. That means the city saw a 4.6 percent increase in the 21043 ZIP, making the total population in that area 46,701 in 2016. Ellicott City's growth far surpasses the Greater Baltimore ZIP code with the next largest raw change. (Balt. Bus. Journal)

De Sousa's resignation means no severance, but he will receive accrued leave, according to his contract

Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa, who resigned Tuesday after being charged with federal tax crimes, will not receive a large severance package like his two predecessors, who were fired “without cause” by the last two mayors, according to his contract. But, he is eligible to receive accrued leave and other benefits earned during his time as commissioner, which he would not have received had he been fired “with just cause” by Mayor Catherine Pugh, according to the contract. It’s unclear whether the federal tax charges against him would have provided “just cause” for his termination, under the terms of his contract. (Balt. Sun)

What changes will the Freedom Master Plan bring?

Carroll County residents still have time to comment on the 2018 Freedom Community Comprehensive Plan before it goes before the Board of County Commissioners for potential adoption. The Planning Commission accepted the plan in mid-April, and a 60-day comment period opened after the plan was released in May. The comment period will conclude after a July 11 public hearing at Liberty High School in Eldersburg. The Carroll County Planning Department’s acting director said this week the plan is a road map at best, although she understands why this process concerns area residents. (Carr. Co. Times)